Ipswich 0 Man City 6: Pep Guardiola’s side back to their best as champions ruthlessly demolish naive Tractor Boys
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Sponsored by. SO MUCH has been said about Erling Haaland’s unswerving commitment with a ten year contract at Manchester City. The visiting fans at Portman Road even sang loudly about it as their celebrated striker rolled home his first goal since signing a monstrous contract that runs until 2035.
![[Erling Haaland celebrating a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/manchester-citys-erling-haaland-celebrates-965014213.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Yet the undoubtedly talented Norwegian is a relative newcomer compared to Phil Foden, who has already clocked up twice that length of service and exhibited yet again why he is such a key player. Smaller in stature than 6ft5 Haaland and like everyone else he has to live in his team-mate’s shadow.
![[Phil Foden celebrating a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/manchester-citys-phil-foden-celebrates-965002087.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Both men were subbed at the same time with the score at 5-0 and the job done just after the hour mark. The City supporters sang Haaland’s name but not Foden’s as they both trotted off. But in a game that pitted men against Tractor Boys at Portman Road, it was lil’ Phil who started the engine with two goals in the first half and the assist for another which had the result wrapped up inside a 15 minute blitz.
![[Jack Clarke of Ipswich Town looks dejected on the field.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/jack-clarke-ipswich-town-looks-965013488.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Foden is 24 now and first joined City aged four. Nobody knows the club better than him when to dig in and get them out of a sticky patch. He put his side two up at Brentford last Tuesday, only to see his defence blow it at the death and chuck two points away.
But he was bang up for it again on a freezing afternoon in Suffolk when Pep Guardiola’s team took its time warming up. Haaland was put clean through after 15 minutes but tamely hit a half-hearted shot that Town keeper Christian Walton patted away easily. Mateo Kovacic blasted over a minute later.
